Hua Hin
Where to lay your head
Where to lay your head
Our favourite part of Hua Hin is found north of the city centre along Naeb Kehardt Road and Soi 51, where some good boutique accommodation fills up with trendy Thais on weekends. In the portion of Central Hua Hin nearest the beach, stacks of cheap guesthouses rub shoulders with upscale chain resorts. Walk 10 minutes away from the sand to find the best selection of budget accommodation. Another cluster of budget options is found on Soi 67 to the south of town, while further south, Khao Takiab Road operates at a lower key.
The area west of Phetkasem in the centre of Hua Hin includes a mix of budget spots to go with a few midrange hotels close to the night market. Quieter than the Nares Damri neighbourhood (a five-minute walk away), this area is convenient if you're arriving late on a train or bus from Bangkok. Some of the cheapest digs in town can be scored around here.
Tucked down an alley off the western end of Dechanuchit, Les Bobo's is a charming little spot where backpackers can mingle and rest their heads on the cheap. We were told that a small dorm room may be coming in the future, but at time of writing, all rooms are small, basic and fan-cooled for individuals or pairs of travellers who appreciate a little privacy. Firm beds are set on hardwood floors,... Read our full review of Les Bobo's Backpacker Hostel.
There's no doubt that the Damrong is a relic of the 1960s, but it surprised us with reasonably well-kept private rooms for the same price as a dorm at nearby Tid Tarad Hostel. The quirky, garage-like lobby features some old lawn chairs, Chinese lanterns hanging next to a few random beach toys, a little display of potato chips and toiletries for sale, and reverently framed photos of several Thai... Read our full review of Damrong Hotel.
Hua Hin House may not have a creative name or stylish design, but it gets the job done for those seeking a solid room for under 1,000 baht. One of a few places to stay down a side lane that branches off Soi 74, the small hotel has a dated feel in the lobby, where the included continental breakfast is served and a small food menu is offered throughout the day. Old but well-kept rooms are... Read our full review of Hua Hin House.
In an area stacked with bland hotels, newish My Place stands out thanks to its sharp crimson-and-grey colour scheme and goldfish pond out front. Step into the sleek lobby and the tasteful Chinese-inspired art, glossy floors and bubbling fountain all make it clear that this place is classier than the rest. You pay a bit more for the added style, but it might be worth it. Available in a few... Read our full review of My Place Hua Hin Hotel.
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Easy to miss near the corner of Chomsin and Phetkasem roads, Tid Tarad has an excellent reputation on Hua Hin's low-budget end. We found the owner to be friendly, professional and attentive to his guests, and the central location puts you right next to Chatchai day market, a three-minute stroll from the night market and Bangkok bus stop, and no more than 10 minutes from the beach. Rooms are set... Read our full review of Tid Tarad Hostel.
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Clustered between the old fishing pier, the beach and Phetkasem Road are a tangle of narrow lanes with at least two-dozen guesthouses and a smattering of midrange hotels. Some would call the area tacky or seedy, but others might find it entertaining and convenient. The towering Hilton flanks the northern side, with the massive Centara Grand just beyond that.
One of the most historic and aesthetically impressive resorts in Thailand, the Centara Grand's only fault, in our opinion, was its decision to go with such a generic name for what really is a special piece of property. Designed by an Italian architect and constructed in 1923 as the Royal Siamese Railway, this was the resort that originally put Hua Hin on the map as a luxury beach destination.... Read our full review of Centara Grand Beach Resort .
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With its sweet elderly owners, seaside cottage decor and spotless rooms, Love Sea House is a breath of fresh air in the middle of the main tourist area. The whole place is immaculate, decorated with light blue and white paint, seashells, potted plants, little ceramic lighthouses and framed photos of tropical ocean scenery taken in Thailand. Windows in the cheapest room face a hallway; but the... Read our full review of Love Sea House.
Located within sight of the fishing pier at the northern end of Nares Damri, this chilled-out spot has one of the best atmospheres in the area thanks to the genuinely friendly Thai staff and Danish owner who plays soulful saxophone in the ground-floor lounge on most nights. It was recently refurbished when we last visited, with the best rooms located upstairs in the main building, each with... Read our full review of The Fat Cat Guesthouse & Piano Bar.
Smack in the middle of busy Dechanuchit Road, this long-standing guesthouse is set in an old beige concrete building that tells you straight away this is no upscale hotel. On the ground floor, the well-worn billiards table and bar tell you that this is also not the place for those who go to bed early. But for backpackers seeking a fun atmosphere to go with their cheap beer and bed, All Nations... Read our full review of All Nations Guest House.
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Rising from a corner of the main tourist area in a barrage of tinted glass and light violet paint, the Chalelarn has raised the bar among Hua Hin's midrange hotels. All seven storeys are done in a sometimes over-the-top traditional Thai theme that relies heavily on polished dark wood, woven bamboo, colourful silk, old-style Thai carvings, glittering elephants and plenty of deep-crimson fabrics.... Read our full review of Chalelarn Hotel.
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The Hilton's massive tower looms next to the beach at the centre of Hua Hin like a sun anchoring a dense solar system of tourist-driven businesses. Opened in 1992, it marked the early days of Hua Hin's radical transformation and was among the first big-name hotels to compete with the neighbouring Centara Grand. These two pivotal resorts offer totally different experiences, both with their own... Read our full review of Hilton Hua Hin Resort.
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Tucked just back from the road but clearly marked with a sign, K Place is a straightforward family-run guesthouse in a central location. Rooms seem to emerge from every corner of the large concrete house, with the cheapest fronting a pleasant shared patio with a slight sea view atop the second floor. These come with hardwood floors, TVs, mini-fridges, small tables, soft beds with lime-green... Read our full review of K Place.
Under new ownership as of 2014, Karoon is our pick out of the mostly old, rundown guesthouses that are essentially small piers with thin walls and roofs over the sea. These spots are able to sell crummy budget rooms thanks to their sea-view decks and the novelty of staying in a room with the surf bubbling beneath the floorboards. Karoon is a slight step up from the competition thanks to... Read our full review of Karoon Guesthouse.
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Surrounded by Western restaurants and fast-food chains in the centre of Hua Hin's tourist area, Sirin's white, fortress-like concrete building must have been here since the 1980s (if not earlier). Rates haven't gone up in years despite the rooms being renovated since our last visit. While the new furniture and carpeting still looks like it was chosen by a conservative grandma, the rooms are... Read our full review of Sirin Hotel.
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Tucked at the end of a quiet and atmospheric alley that shoots south from the centre of Damnern Kasem, Soontree is a comfy little hideaway within easy walking distance of the beach and nightlife. The light blue building lacks any trace of character, but rooms are bright, spacious, spotless and outfitted with TVs, mini-fridges, soft beds on white tile floors, small desks, bureaus, large hot-water... Read our full review of Soontree Guest House.
The Sukkasem aims to be cushier, cleaner and more stylish than the other perched-over-the-sea options on Nares Damri. It succeeds in terms of cleanliness and style, with a shared open-air loft offering floor cushions, tables and benches to go with sea views. Adorned with woven bamboo walls and original dark-wood floors, rooms come with LCD TVs, small electronic safes, desks, mirrors and... Read our full review of Sukkasem Guesthouse.
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The centrally located Victor has a wide mix of rooms in a single floor motel-style building that just keeps stretching back behind reception. Every room seems to be decorated slightly different from the last. Even the cheapest fan rooms with shared bath come with TVs and DVD players, while the higher-end offerings are spacious and bag you a mini-fridge. Decor includes bright paintings done by... Read our full review of Victor Guesthouse.
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A 10- to 20-minute walk north of the central tourist area brings you to a far more relaxed neighbourhood with a trendy and artistic atmosphere. While low-budget travellers are out of luck in this, our favourite part of Hua Hin, those seeking a stylish flashpacker guesthouse or intimate boutique resort have several options to choose from.
Set in a residential neighbourhood that borders Klai Kangwon palace at the far northern end of Naeb Kehardt, Baan Talay Chine has a hidden-away feel that will suit couples and families in search of some solitude. A very private stretch of beach is no more than 200 metres away, while Soi 51 will take 10 minutes on foot. The whole place is tastefully done in a traditional Chinese theme that... Read our full review of Baan Talay Chine.
Facing the beach at the end of Soi 51, Green Gallery joins Baan Bayan as one of our two favourite boutique hotels in Hua Hin. Half of the rooms are set in a restored wooden house just back from the beach while the other half are villas clustered around a small swimming pool. This is a true boutique hotel, with every room featuring its own unique theme. Retro hints at the 1970s disco days without... Read our full review of Green Gallery Beach Boutique Hotel.
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Halfway between Soi 51 and the central tourist area, Hua Hin Place left us thinking that we'll be calling for a room next time we're in town. A very pleasant staff member was quick to welcome us to a breezy ground-floor lobby that's filled with wind chimes, sofas, tables, books and shared computers. Rooms have a subtle but charming Thai sea-cottage theme that includes wicker furniture, rattan... Read our full review of Hua Hin Place Guesthouse.
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At the end of a quiet lane off Soi 51, Pool 51 Villas is an excellent family-run choice for anyone seeking a plush room and a swimming pool for under 1,000 baht. Rooms are set in a single-floor building that faces a small pool, with little benches, ceramic sheep and rocking horses scattered around the garden. Each room comes with a small patio, comfortable bed on sturdy dark-wood frame, TV,... Read our full review of Pool 51 Villas.
Naab K Heart epitomises this trendy area better than any other single establishment. The ground-floor cafe has a lively atmosphere on weekends, when fashion-conscious young Thais flock here to sip iced lattes and tuck into curries and Thai desserts. The whole place has a quasi-retro feel that's all the rage in Thailand; think vintage bicycles, pastel patterns and old-school TVs that are there for... Read our full review of Naab K Heart Hotel .
A 15-minute walk from the night market and train station but a one-minute hop to a decent stretch of beach, Soi 67 hosts a tightly packed selection of similarly equipped guesthouses in the 600 to 1,200 baht range. It also has a small, shabby swimming pool shared among the guesthouses. This general vicinity also includes a few upscale resorts, and a cluster of expat bars and guesthouses on Soi 80.
Located smack on a quiet stretch of beach towards the south of town, Baan Bayan is an elegant boutique resort centred on a gorgeous 90-year-old wooden house. Located inside the house, the priciest rooms are among the most romantic in Hua Hin. Each comes with high ceilings, cream-wooden walls, several swing-open windows, sumptuous wood floors, bright modern art and turquoise floral bed covers.... Read our full review of Baan Bayan.
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The first place you see while heading down Soi 67 from the main road, Rahmahyah occupies a curiously designed building that looks like it might have hidden nooks and stairways in some of its corners. On the ground floor is an inviting restaurant that receives good reports on both its Thai and Western fare, including big breakfasts and fresh coffee. Rooms are spacious and a bit dated, with... Read our full review of Rahmahyah Hotel.
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This intimate family-run spot has developed one of the best reputations on Soi 67 thanks to its consistently clean rooms and cheerful staff. It's very much a guesthouse; we're not sure why they've begun calling the place a hotel. Whatever the label, rooms are comfortable with more effort put into keeping the place clean rather than creating a trendy image. Expect white-tile floors, small... Read our full review of Sunshine Hotel .
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This small budget hotel feels like a relaxing Thai-themed retreat despite being right off the main drag towards the south of town. Two floors of rooms with pointed gabled roofs are situated around a small but relaxing courtyard with lots of tropical plants, fountains and a statue of Ganesha. Rooms are simple but clean, comfy and reasonably priced for what you get. Each comes with air-con, TV,... Read our full review of Baan Khachathong.
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The long-running Leng now calls itself a hotel guesthouse (it used to be just Leng Guesthouse), making us wonder why Soi 67's guesthouse owners seem to be having an identity crisis. This spot is larger than adjacent Sunshine, giving it a more reasonable claim to the title of hotel, but it's still a fairly cosy family-run spot. Passing through a cluttered lobby and up some stairs, the rooms are... Read our full review of Leng Hotel .
The road to Khao Takiab is Hua Hin's fastest growing area, with some massive condominiums and big-name hotels having gone up over the past few years. Head past those and you reach a laidback village with some intimate mid- to high-end resorts peppered into residential areas. The beach here is quiet and there's a decent selection of restaurants. Central Hua Hin is several kilometres away, but songthaews provide regular transport.
Somewhat hard to find down a residential street that's a five-minute walk from the beach, we were sad to leave this sophisticated guesthouse. The family who owns the place is genuinely welcoming (as is their little dog Katcha); the atmosphere makes you want to lie around and relax; and eco-friendly practices like solar power, grey water and use of organic veggies are admirable. Rather than... Read our full review of Sea Harmony Eco Lodge.
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Hidden down a side lane within 50 metres of the beach, this elegant mini-resort has made up for a lack of direct sea views with loads of lush foliage, goldfish ponds, fountains and a large deck surrounding a swimming pool and Jacuzzi at the centre of the property. Thai-style villas with high gabled roofs are stacked close together, which is the only real negative point we could find. Sumptuous... Read our full review of Ruen Kanok Thai House.
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